September 2004

Cynthia McKeown searches for words thoughtfully when describing how her unplanned filmmaking odyssey of "One In Eight: Janice’s Journey" began, "It was one of those -- what is the word -- serendipitous? -- instances in life. I wasn’t thinking about making a film about breast cancer at all, but I heard that someone I knew was diagnosed. I was floored by the diagnosis -- I thought how could such an emotionally honest, articulate person be lost. I wanted there to be something preserved of her should she not make it."

The film community in New England is about to evolve. The first weekend of October marks the debut of the Northern Lights Film Festival in Newburyport, the first all-documentary festival this side of the Hudson hatched by first-time festival directors Michelle Fino and Hailey Klein.

It seems practical, even reasonable, to rely on news organizations to broadcast accurately. Such informational institutions exist to dig up the facts, right? Maybe not. In the aftermath of President Bush's crusade to eliminate the seemingly omnipotent threat of 'weapons of mass destruction,' it has become pretty obvious that what initially appeared to be a deed of heroism and liberation was actually a vicious act of messy retribution. The burning question is, how much did the embedded American media uncover while reporting from the read more...

Oh, to remember the days of growing up as an adolescent girl... the innocence, the freedom, and the joy.  But with growing up also come the pain, pressures, fear, and tribulations as filmmaker Jane Gray portrays in her first documentary film 'Playing House."  Set in a dormitory, Webster House, a freshman dorm in the exclusive Fay School, the film gives an intimate look at adolescent girlhood and the rarefied world of boarding school.  Jane Gray documents the lives of five seventh and eighth-grade girls during their first year away from home.

Jeremiah Kipp’s inquisitive eyes are constantly on the move. In a rear booth inside Ace Bar in New York City’s East Village, the diminutive, energetic filmmaker is rapidly answering questions about his semi-autobiographical short film "The Christmas Party," periodically punctuating key points by slamming the table with his right fist. The bar, with its prominent display of vintage ‘70s and ‘80s lunchboxes featuring the likes of "Charlie’s Angels" and "He-Man," is dark except read more...

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Every month in Industry News, regional film festival deadlines and screenings are noted. Traditional film festivals, however, only provide exposure for completed film. What about the large group of talented filmmakers who yearn to find funding for future projects? Movies have never been cheap...

With "Shrek," "Monster’s Inc," and "Finding Nemo" all the rage these days, when the studios came calling on local children’s author and filmmaker John Michael Williams, seeking to option his screenplay for the animated film "The Easter Egg Escapade," naturally, he turned Hollywood down.

So, you’ve decided to take the plunge and buy a camera? There are a host of stories and scenarios out there that deserve to be forever caught on film, so you’ve made a great decision. But you’ve got your work cut out for you -- there are many, many cameras out there. Let’s start with a general overview of digital cameras first.

A fight broke out between two sixth-grade students on the day I went to visit Cleveland Middle School with Alan Michel of HOME, Inc. Just before the first punch landed, a fellow classmate stepped in, and the students decided to keep the peace, sealing it with a fist pound... and then the credits started to roll. This altercation was part of a 60-second public service announcement the students had completed for their Media Literacy class, and they beamed with pride as their hard work was acknowledged in front of a small group that had gathered to watch.